Spanish castle magic-secret base!! 5' x 3' layout

[McColm]

Hi,
The combining of Whiffs and model trains is nothing new. I've toyed with this idea for years, but space has always been a problem. The BAe Pegasus project gave me an idea and a copy of Peco Track Plans.
The base could be built out of two cheap D.I.Y. shelving units, the top cut at your local D.I.Y. store, slightly wider than the units ( make sure you keep the off cuts) and a few 2" x 4" planks of wood. Wood glue, screws and sand paper.
Build the units as per instructions but don't attach the backboard. Cut planks the same size as the top and attach to form a rim. Glue and screw, countersink the screws so they lie flat. When dry place top, on top of the spaced chest of draws. If layout is to be permanent, stretchers can be cut from the remaining wood to strengthen the base and top. The shelves will then act as storage for stash kits or current unfinished kits.
In my stash Ive now got a 1/72 Medieval (that's how they spell it on the box!) Castle and in the instructions it's know as the  'KID'. I thought of building this Kid or kit with the walls of the castle and drawbridge facing outwards on a rocky terrain, a road would lead to a nearby station where a courtesy bus would take workers/visitors up to the castle. On the otherside of the castle wall a small private workshop with hard stands. Nothing elaborate as BAe Pegasus. The hangers could be built under the castle walls. With the track elevated, the hard stand idea would use the available space. I was thinking along the lines of a false top as a cover or to add the top, but cut this with jagged edges so the eye would think that there was another layer above. Various 1/76 vehicles could be parked up.
This allows for additional scenes to be added at a later stage.
This idea also frees up a lot of shelving space to display my 1/25 and 1/24  scale kits and other larger 1/72 kits.
There is a TravisPerkins close to where I live and quite a few secondhand furniture shops along the high street. I'll keep you informed of the progress of this project.

[Green Dragon]

Bought mine to build as a Bond villains lair if the movie GB got picked. It didn't so back in the stash went the castle.

Paul Harrison

[RussC]

Excellent ideas! One I always thought about was a variation of captain midnight, runway inside a mountain or the Thunderbirds and their hidden launch zones. Another would be the ghost strip where you have a closed base of 40's vintage on top but inside the rundown hangar is a lift that connects to a underground parking garage, real Area 51 stuff.

[Project D]

Sounds like a good idea, can't wait to see the pictures of the build and progress 

[deathjester]

Excellent ideas! One I always thought about was a variation of captain midnight, runway inside a mountain or the Thunderbirds and their hidden launch zones. Another would be the ghost strip where you have a closed base of 40's vintage on top but inside the rundown hangar is a lift that connects to a underground parking garage, real Area 51 stuff.

That's not a bad idea - the perfect answer to lack of space, go vertical!

[McColm]

I've seen runways built on steep slopes out in the Middle East. The German Air Force tested F-104s with rockets strapped to the fuselage for short take off.
Well if it all goes wrong I can ask Bruce Waynne for his ideas in building a bat cave!!

[RussC]

I just did build a secret aerodrome - virtual.
Have been Learning 3D tools like blender, sculptris and google - sketchup (all freewares) and for projects to test and try, are some aero items. Built a 3D layout of a tabletop diorama that can be rendered as jpg or PNG and can then be input to PS for further details and colors if needed plus add your own airplanes. I also opted to just go for now with structures and left out grass or any low-polygon trees or the like.
   It is in their 3D model Library Warehouse under the title "kg144aerodrome". Enjoy.

Save there under a new name if you want to modify anything -

[McColm]

Wow!!
Thanks I'll check that out.

[RussC]

Hint: one of the hangars is access to the underground part of the base, a.k.a. the "bargain basement". 

[McColm]

That's got me thinking. Instead of buying a solid top, I'll get pieces cut. These will form a well in the middle, the top shelves of the bookcase will then form the base. The cave part housing the hangers/workshop is in the basement, a large service lift (similar to the ones used on aircraft carriers) takes the aircraft to the launch area above. A tug tows the aircraft to the catapult launching system. I haven't come up with an aircraft recovery system as yet.

[RussC]

I made something like a carrier for a fellow modelmaker to display his navy planes, using 3/4 gatorboard. The ship is in cross-section width-wise and was made to sit atop a shelf. There is a lexan window over the interior decks to keep them less dusty - removed for the photo shoot.
 





 
 That is the closest to your concept I have built. You should have more space and leeway to be creative with your idea.

[McColm]

Brilliant!!
The markings on the carrier deck, were they painted by hand or did you use a printed sheet(s)?

[RussC]

By hand, using some Tamiya painters tape. I did cheat a liitle bit and use some kit parts, there is one of those Dragon Models flight decks diorama nested into the larger deck space. It has the blast deflector, the shooter's control cube and comes with the fire truck and some 1/144 figures, plus a pretty good Tomcat.
  The flat face radar is sitting atop one of those 3" rotating display stands, so it scans around. The fellow who took delivery of the whole thing later had to remove the battery and stop the antenna permanently as his cat kept playing with it.

[McColm]

Thanks for that

[McColm]

The project is moving forward, due to a change in my shift pattern. As I start a new assignment on Tuesday 8am until 1pm, up near Saint Paul's Cathedral lasting for six weeks. The afternoons will be spent in the construction in between finishing off builds and taking photos or working the odd weekend.